Method of and apparatus for removing hubs



nwe, 1932. Rf A KAPLAN 1,889,750

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FQR REMOVING HUBS Filed Dec. 26,` 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 6, 1932. R. A. KAPLAN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING HUBS Filed Dec. 26, 1929 sx sheets-sheet 2 ab@ @warf/,M

Dec. 6, 1932. R, A, KAPLAN 1,889,750

METHOD oF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING HUBS -Filed Dec. 26, 1929 '3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 6, v1932 UNITED STATES PATENT* oFFicE' REUBEN A. KAPLAN, or owAToNNA, VMINNSotre,'AssIeNon TooWAToNNA Too'L s coMrANY, or oWAToNNA, MINNESOTA, A coRPoKRATT-ON orv MINNESOTA f METHOD or AND Arzenim'mzrsynon` nEMovING HUBS Applicationaled December 26,1929. serial 110,416,351.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for removing the wheels orhubs from the axle shafts of automobiles and other automotive vehicles.

5 The invention is especially applicable to the removal of the rear or driving wheels of automobiles, although it may alsobeapplied to the removal of other members fromV the shafts upon which they aremounted. f

i@ l An object of the invention is to provide an improved method of land apparatus for removing automobile wheels, hubs, and the like, from the members Vupon whichV they are mounted. f

i.: VFurther objects of the invention will be apparent from the l following description, taken in connection with the appended drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a rear elevation, partly in section, of the rear wheel-and-axle assembly ofan automobile, showing a toolV which embodies the invention applied thereto; A y

Fig. 2 is an end view of the tool; and Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,A 8, 9, l0 and 11 are fragmentary views similar to Fig. 1, but showing modified forms ofthe invention.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, therear axle assembly of anautomobile of a well-known type is designated generally by the reference numeral 10, and the rear wheels by Vreference numerals 1l and 12, the wheel 12 being represented in section and by dotted lines. The rear wheels shown in this modivication aredetachable from their hubs by removing bolts 14, which securer them -to the brake drums 15, and the hubs are provided with annular flanges or other projections 16 to facilitate their removal from the axle shafts. W'ithin the differential housing 18, a

i :110 driving pinion 20 and gear 21 are shown in the usual relation, also a differential pinion 22 and axle gears 24 .and 25, which are secured tothe rear axle shafts 27 `and 28, respectively.` The hub 30, which it isdesired to remove, has a tapered bore which fits on thetapered end of axle shaft 28 in the usual manner.`

The tool which Vforms an embodiment .of this invention comprises a rigid member 34 havingat rits upper end means for quickly enga-ging `and supporting the hub,.such as the diverging prongs 85 which are adapted to receive the hub 30 therebetween, the prongs being preferably so designed' as to enable them to accommodate hubs of different sizes, At its lower end, member 34 is provided with I "I an inwardly and downwardly extending portion 36 to the end of which is pivotedV a gripping member 37 adapted to rest upon the flooror ground and having serrations on its 60 lower surface to prevent slipping. In use, the member 37 is positioned inwardly ofl av vertical line A-A which passes through lthe point where the prongs 35 r engage the hub. Aprojection 40 extends'outwardly from the ,6,5 lower end of member-B4 to act asa stop in case member 37 or tire 11 slips under the weight of thecar, and is of such length as to engage the floor outwardlyof the line A-A and thus continueto support the car if` such .79 slippage occurs. f

lathe operation of this embodiment,the Wheel 12 is yfirst raised clear ofthe floor vbv a jack or Yothermeans applied to the axle hoiise ing, and the wheel'is then removed yby removing the hlubcap (not shown) and bolts 14. The'tool above describedjis then placed position as shown in Fig. 1, so that the mem- A berl(l is positioned inwardly with respect to line'A-- A, and the jack is lowered, allowing the weight of the car to rest on the tool,vwith the result that prongs 35 move outwardly along the h ub 30 and bear outwardly against flange 16, thereby. exerting an outward pressure against the hub. 30 and shaft 28 considered as a unit., the two being hereinafter referred 'to as the hub-and-shaft assembly.

Thisoutward pressure is resisted by the wheel 11, whichrests upon the groundor floor, and results in moving.V the shaft l28 outwardly by a distance equal to whatever end play may exist between the beveled axle gear 25 and the gears with which it meshes. The end of axle 28 is likewise separated from the differential spider (not shown) or from any other part against which it maybe designedV to bear, and a similar action takes place in the bear:- ings of wheel 12., Y i. n

`Ar driving nut 44 is :then screwed onto the end of shaft 28, replacing the usual axle nut, T100 impact oftheblows delivered* at' 44, since asV as, they cannot be forcibly stuck together while the hub remains in place on the; shaft unless the force of the vblow issuff'icient to rotate the tool about member 37, thereby raising the center of gravity of thecar by a corresponding amount. It will be readily seen that only a very slight movement between the hub and aXle-isnecessary, since a slight movement will loosen the hub so as to make its complete The embodiment shown in Fig. 3jis designed for use with automobiles of the type wherein the rearvvheels are not readily de# tachable from their hubs, with the result thatl it is more convenient to remove the wheels and hubs together.V The tool 62 shown in this figure is similar in principle to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but its upper end is shaped to engage the wheel 64 and` brake drum 65 as indicated at 66 in such a manner asto exert an-outward thrust on the hub 68 to tend to move it off from the axle shaft 70.* This takes up the end play in the gearing and prevents damage thereto in the same manner as eX# plained above in connection with Figs.. 1 and 2. A driving nut 72 similar to nut 44 is also employed with this modification.

In the embodimentY shown in Fig. 4, a similar result is obtained by means of. a pair of arms 50, 51, pivoted together at 52 and having forked ends 54, 55 adapted to engage respectively the differential housing 18and the flange 16 of the vhubSO. In this embodiment,z.the rear axle. of the' car is supported by a jack 57 or other means andV theparms are forced apart by means of a jack-screw 58 adapted to fit therebetween in such manner as to force them apart when rotated by means of a nut 60.V K

A'Ihe modicationshown in Fig. 5 is similar to that shown in Fig. 4 except that its forked ends 7 3, 7 4 are designed to engage the wheelsadjacent the brake drums Vto thereby leXert an.' outward force againstboth wheels simultaneously. lI`heV arms are pivoted'together at 75 and urged apart by means of a jackscrew 76, the wheelto be removed being elevated by means of ajack V77. f Fig. 6 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, differing therefrom in that'a shoe 80 is secured to the pivot `81 connecting the Aarms 82 and 83, which shoe rests on' the {i'oor or ground, so that the weight .of thezcar causes the forked ends 84 and 85 to press outwardly against the Wheels adjacent the brake drums.

The tool shown in Fig. 7 also has a shoe 87 secured to the pivot 88 connecting the arms a vblock 96having one of its faces inclined.

at about 45 degrees to form an inclined plane and'profvided with asmooth metallic plate 98 which forms a sliding surface for a cradle 100' which is shaped to receive Ythe tire 102 ofthe wheel which isto be removed. 'Ihe cradle is slidably mounted on the plate 98 by means of a bolt 104 fixed thereto and having'fits head 106 slidable in a T-slot 108 formed in the block 96 and plate 98. A' tension spring` 1.10 secured to the head 106-and to a projection 112 of plate 98 tends to hold the cradle in its uppermost position, and a base plate 114 provided with a roughened surface is secured tothe undersurface of the blockto prevent the block Vslipping on the floor.r In the" use of thisembodiment the wheel is elevated by a jack or other lifting means `(not shown) until the cradle 10() may be Vinserted under the tire, whereupon the Weight of the A'caris released by removing the lifting means, and the cradle'moves down-V wardly under the weight of the car, simultaneously moving the wheel outwardly to take up'the end *play in the gearing in the same manner as 'in the embodiments above K described.

v vA simplified construction along the line of that described in connection with Fig. 81's shown in Fig. 9, wherein a block 116 is provided with a smooth inclined face 117 ada-pted to receive the tire 118in sliding relation', and the block is preventedfrom sliding by means of a serrated base plate '120. Y

The modification shown' in Fig. 10 comprises a block122 which supports an .upright member 123 forked atitsupper end toreceive the hub 30 and press outwardlyagainst the flange 16 thereon. The member 123 is provided with a headed bolt 124 which slides in a T- slot 125 formed in the block 122 and functions in a manner similar to the embodiment shown in'Fig. 8 to urge Vthe hub outwardly. v

- In the embodiment shown in Fig. 11, a cradle 127, shaped to receive the tread of-'tire 128, is pivotally supported onaserrat'ed base member 129.\v A coiledfspring 130 is positioned between the base member and a projection on the lcradle to hold the latter in proper position for use, and a'projection'll formed on the 1inner Vportion of the cradle is designed 'to Lcontact with the base member to prevent the cradle from overturning inward-V ly in case the base member 129 or the other tire (not shown) slips on the ground or floor.

The term wheel assembly as used herein includes the hub, spokes, rim, tire, brake drum, and/or any other elements which may form a part of the rotatable unit mounted on the axle shaft. Where mention is made of removing a hub it is intended to include the removal of such-hub with or without the remainder of the wheel assembly.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it may be embodied in other forms Without departing from the spirit of the invention. Y

Thus, the tools shown in Figs. and 6 may with slight changes be adapted to engage the hub after the wheel has been removed, in the manner of the tool shown in Fig. 4, and various means may be used for .forcing apart the pivoted arms of the embodiments. shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7 It should also be noted that in any of the illustrated embodiments, While the wheel or hub to which the tool is directly applied is considered as the' one to be removed, the opposite wheel or hub may also be removed, since the play in the other Wheel or hub is also eectually taken up. The invention is therefore not intended to be limited except by the terms of the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. The method of removing a hub from an axle shaft of an automotive vehicle, which consists in causing the weight of the vehicle to exert an outwardV force against the hub to take up play in the gears and bearings associated with the shaft, and simultaneously exerting a sudden inward force upon the shaft to displace it relative to the hub.

2. A tool for removing a hub from an automotive vehicle axle shaft, comprising a rigid member having a portion adapted to rest on and grip the floor or ground inwardly v of the hub to support the axle, and another portion adapted to engage the hub, the member being free to tilt about the portion resting on the floor to thereby exert an outward force against the hub.

3. A tool for removing a hub from an automotive vehicle axle shaft, comprising a rigid member having a bifurcated upper end adapted to support the hub at more than its normal distance from the floor or ground,

the lower end of the rigid member being adapted to engage the floor or ground, said rigid member having a portion extending outwardly therefrom to engage the floor or ground should the lower end slip relative to the floor or ground.

4. A tool for removing a hubfrom an axle of an automotive vehicle, comprising a rigid member capable `of supporting the weight normally supported by one wheel of the vehicle, and having one of its ends adapted toengage the floor or ground and its other end adapted to engage a portion of the wheel assembly outwardly of the first mentioned endf'i-n such relation as to exert an outward force'l against. the hub.

automotive vehicle axleJr sha-ft, comprising al member having a portion adapted to engage a part of the wheel assembly, a second mem; ber connected to the first mentioned member andha-ving a portion adapted to engage a portion ofthe vehicle:v inwardly of the hub, and means for urging the first andsecondA mentioned portions away from each other.

6. A tool for removing av hub from an automotiveivlehicle axleshaft, comprising apair of members having their adjacent ends piv oted together and' having their free ,ends adapted to engage respectivelya part of the wheel assembly `and another portion vof the vehicle, and means for urging saidv free ends away froml each other.y f.

7. Aftool for. removing a wheel from an automotive vehicle vaxle `sha.ft,.comprising a member having a portion adapted to engage the Wheel and exert anoutward force thereagainst, another member connected to the first mentioned member and having a portionadapted to engage apart of the vehicle positioned inwardly of the hub,-and meansfor urging the lirst and' second gmentioned 'portions awayv from eachother. i

8. A toolfor removing'a hub from the axle shaft of an automotive vehicle, comprising a rigid member adapted to engage a portion of the wheel assembly and exert an outward force against the hub and havingxa portion adapted to engage the ground or iioor inwardlyof the wheel-assembly, and a second rigid vmember connected to the first mentioned member andl adapted to 'engage a pory tion of the vehicle positioned inwardly of the wheel assembly. y

9. A tool for removing awheel from anl automotive vehicle axle shaft, comprising a member having a portion adapted to engage a part of the wheel assembly and exert an outward force thereagainst and another por- 5. A toolY for removing a hub froman tion adapted to rest on the floor. or ground inwardly of the first mentioned portion, and another member connected to said other member and having a portion adapted to engage another portion of the vehicle.

10.l A tool for removing a wheel or hub l from an axle of an automotive vehicle, comprising a member having an inclined surface,

and a second member slidably mounted on said surface and adapted to support the wheel or hub to be removed.

Y l1. A tool for removing a hub from an automotive vehicle axle shaft, comprising a member having a portion adapted to engage the hub and exert an outward force thereagainst,"and another member supporting the first mentioned member and operative by the iso weight of the'car to urge the irst mentioned member outwardly. Y

v 12. A tool for removing a Wheel from an automotive vehicle axle shaft, comprising a base member adapted to rest on the loor or ground, and a member connectedto the base member by a pivotal connection and adapted to engage the tire of the wheel outwardly'of said pivotal connection.

13. A tool for removing'a wheel or hub from an axle of an automotive vehicle, comprising a base member having an inclined surface, a. second member slidably mounted on said surface and .adapted to support the wheel or hubto be removed, and yielding means for restoring the second member to its uppermost position.

14. A tool for removing a Vhub from an automotive vehicleaxle shaft, comprising a rigid member adapted to engage a portion of the wheel assembly and exert an outward force against thewheel assembly and having a portion adapted to engage the ground or floor inwardly of said wheel assembly, and a second rigid 'member connected to the first mentioned member and adapted to engage the opposite wheel assembly.

15. The method of removing a hub from an axle shaft of an automotive-vehicle, which comprises supporting the hub in such a way as to cause a portion of the weight of the vehicle to exert an outward force against the hub and shaft, and simultaneously subject ing the shaft so supported to an inwardly direced impact to displace it relative to the hu l In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 19th day of December, 1929.

AREUBEN A. KAPLAN. 

